The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
Encyclopedia
The Complete Thom Bell Sessions (MCA-39115) is a music album recorded by singer/songwriter Elton John
. Recorded in 1977, the album brings together the complete recording session by Elton John
and producer Thom Bell
onto one album. Released in 1989 by MCA Records
, the album is composed of the material previously released in 1979 as The Thom Bell Sessions
(MCA-13921) as well as the songs that were recorded at the original session but unreleased until 1989. Two of the "new" songs were co-written by John - "Nice and Slow" was co-written with Thom Bell
and longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin
, and "Shine on Through" with lyricist Gary Osborne
. Because the recordings were shelved at the time, the latter was re-recorded and included on John's 1978 LP
, A Single Man.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
. Recorded in 1977, the album brings together the complete recording session by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and producer Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
onto one album. Released in 1989 by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, the album is composed of the material previously released in 1979 as The Thom Bell Sessions
The Thom Bell Sessions
The Thom Bell Sessions is an EP recorded by Elton John in the second half of 1977 but was not released by MCA Records until June 1979. The project was a departure for Elton at the time. Up until that time he had worked almost exclusively with lyricist Bernie Taupin and record producer Gus Dudgeon...
(MCA-13921) as well as the songs that were recorded at the original session but unreleased until 1989. Two of the "new" songs were co-written by John - "Nice and Slow" was co-written with Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
and longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, and "Shine on Through" with lyricist Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom.-Career:Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen....
. Because the recordings were shelved at the time, the latter was re-recorded and included on John's 1978 LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, A Single Man.
Track listing
- "Nice and Slow" (JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, TaupinBernie TaupinBernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, BellThom BellThomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
) – 4:43 - "Country Love Song" (Joseph J. Jefferson) – 5:05
- "Shine on Through" (John, OsborneGary OsborneGary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom.-Career:Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen....
) – 7:46 - "Mama Can't Buy You LoveMama Can't Buy You Love"Mama Can't Buy You Love" is a hit single for British singer/songwriter Elton John off the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. The song was written by LeRoy Bell and Casey James , and it became John's first U.S. top-ten hit in almost three years when it peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in...
" (LeRoy BellLeRoy BellLeRoy Bell, at times Leroy Bell is an American singer and songwriter. He and his friend Casey James played in Special Blend, and then went on to form their own duo Bell and James, also composing songs that were hits for other artists most notably two charting hit singles for Elton John. Later Bell...
, Casey JamesBell and JamesBell and James was an American soul group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed by Leroy Bell on and Casey James . LeRoy Bell is now a contestant on the American The X Factor-Career:...
) – 4:09 - "Are You Ready for LoveAre You Ready for Love"Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by Elton John in 1977, and was first released in the UK in 1979 on the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. It was written by Leroy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell...
" (Bell, Bell, James) – 8:20 - "Three Way Love Affair" (Bell, James) – 5:00
See also
- The Thom Bell SessionsThe Thom Bell SessionsThe Thom Bell Sessions is an EP recorded by Elton John in the second half of 1977 but was not released by MCA Records until June 1979. The project was a departure for Elton at the time. Up until that time he had worked almost exclusively with lyricist Bernie Taupin and record producer Gus Dudgeon...